Chrysanthemum plant named Bronze Comet

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Bronze Comet particularly characterized by its flat to V-shaped capitulum form; quilled to spooned decorative capitulum type; bronze ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 9 cm at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a single stem spray cut mum; and excellent tolerance to low temperatures for bud initiation and flower development.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Bronze Comet.

Bronze Comet, identified as 81-757B07, is a product of a mutationinduction program which had the objective of creating new Chrysanthemumcultivars that would expand the color range of an existing cultivarwhile retaining all other traits.

Bronze Comet was discovered and selected by Cornelis P. VandenBerg onSept. 18, 1985 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. as oneflowering plant within a flowering block established as rooted cuttingsfrom stock plants which had been exposed as unrooted cuttings to anX-ray source of 1500 rads. The irradiated parent was the cultivaridentified as Comet, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,809.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Bronze Comet was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection inNovember 1985 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., bytechnicians working under formulations established and supervised byCornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Bronze Comet are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Bronze Comet has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and daylength.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice. The lowtemperature tolerance of the new variety as noted below was determinedin repeated flowerings in Bogota, Colombia.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Bronze Comet, which, in combination,distinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat to V-shaped capitulum form.

2. Quilled to spooned decorative capitulum type.

3. Bronze ray floret color.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of up to 9 cm at maturity.

5. Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

6. Peduncle length ranging from 15 to 25 cm on open, terminal sprays.

7. Medium plant height, requiring two long day weeks prior to short daysto attain a flowered plant height of 90 to 100 cm for year-roundflowerings.

8. Excellent tolerance to low temperatures for bud initiation and flowerdevelopment.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Bronze Comet, with the colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type. The color photographis a perspective view of Bronze Comet grown as a single stem cut spraymum.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Bronze Comet is the parent cultivar Comet. All traits ofBronze Comet are similar to those of Comet, except the color of the rayflorets. The color of the ray florets of Bronze Comet is bronze, whilethe color of Comet is described as purple.

In the following description color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a single stem cut spray mum in Salinas, Calif.on July 14, 1989.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Bronze Comet.

Commercial.--Quilled to spooned decorative cut spray mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat to V-shaped.

Type.--Quilled to spooned decorative.

Diameter across face.--Up to 9 cm at maturity.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Bronze.

Color (inner surface of tubular rays).--163D heavily overlaid andstreaked with 168B to 168C.

Color (outer surface of tubular rays).--163D slightly streaked with173D.

Shape.--Outer rays are quilled, inner rays are spoon-tipped.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--14B.

Color (immature).--Closest to 1A to 1B. Few disc florets. Number of discflorets depending on environmental conditions.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 90 to 100 cm as a single stem cut mum with two long dayweeks prior to short days.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--137A.

Color (under surface).--148B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and serrated.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Bronze Comet,as described and illustrated.